Excavating apparatus



May 5, 1959 5. M. POOL 7 2,884,721

' EXCAVATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 23, 1956 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.4 Bandeau/n M. Pool May 5, 1959 B. M. POOL EXCAVA'IKING APPARATUS 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed mm 23, 1956 ZZZ-I: 3

INVENTOR. Bur en/n A. Pool United States Patent EXCAVATING APPARATUSBenjamin M. Pool, Montgomery, Ala. Application November 23, 1956, SerialNo. 624,148 7 Claims. CI. 37-85) This invention relates to excavatingapparatus and more particularly to apparatus for digging substantiallyrectangular shaped openings into the ground, such as graves and likeopenings.

An object of my invention is to provide excavating apparatus of thecharacter designated in which the supporting means therefor ispositioned inwardly of the digging or cutting elements whereby theaparatus may be transferred through narrow passageways, such as thepassageways between graves in cemeteries, and at the same time theapparatus is adapted for digging openings of the required length, depthand width.

Another object of my invention is to provide excavating apparatus of thecharacter designated in which the supporting means therefor travels onthe bottom surface of the opening being dug, whereby the depth of theout being made by the cutting elements may be easily adjusted by varyingthe vertical position of the supporting means relative to the excavatorframe.

Another object of my invention is to provide excavating apparatus of thecharacter designated in which the cutting elements are positionedoutwardly of the portion of the apparatus which travels vertically,whereby they are always in View of the operator, thus avoiding damage'to the apparatus where rocks and like objects are encountered.

A further object of my invention is to provide excavating apparatus ofthe character designated in which the cutting elements are provided withoutwardly extending cutters along the leading edges and sides thereofwhereby the cutting is done from the bottom and the side toward whichthe apparatus is moving.

A further object of my invention is to provide excavating apparatus ofthe character designated which shall be simple of construction,economical of manufacture and adapted for digging openings into theground in a minimum of time and with a minimum of labor.

Apparatus embodying features of my invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View with parts broken away and in section;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view, partly broken away and in section;and,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing one of the cutter elements removedfrom the apparatus.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of myinvention, I show elongated guide rails and 11 which are anchored to theground 12 by suitable pins 13 along opposite sides of the opening beingdug indicated generally at 14. Mounted for rotation on the guide rails10 and 11 is a supporting frame 16 which comprises elongated sidemembers 17 and 18 at opposite sides thereof. Suitable reinforcing angles19 and 21 are secured to the side member 17. In like manner reinforcingangles 22 and 23 are secured to the side member 18, as shown. Connectingthe side members ice All 17 and 18 adjacent the ends thereof are axlemembers 24 and 26. Mounted on the axles 2 4 and 26 are flanged rollers27 which ride on the rails 10 and 11.

Secured to the guide rail 10 as by welding at 28 is an inwardlyextending bracket 29. Pivotally connected to the bracket 29 by means ofa pin 31 is one end of a fluid pressure operated cylinder 32 having apiston rod 33. Secured to the free end of the piston rod 33 is anupstanding bracket 34 which in turn is connected to the axle 24 as bywelding at 36. Fluid under pressure is introduced into opposite ends ofthe cylinder 32 by conduits 37 and 38 whereby reciprocatory motion isimparted to the supporting frame 16.

Mounted for vertical m" vement within the confines of the supportingframe 16 is an excavator frame 39. The excavator frame 39 comprisesvertical corner frame memhere 41 and 42 at opposite sides thereof whichare con nected at the tops and bottoms thereof by transverse framemembers 43 and 44, respectively. As shown in the drawings, positioned onopposite sides of the axles 24 and 26 from the frame members 41, 42 arevertically extending guide members 41a and 42a which are connected tothe upper and lower frame members 43 and 44. The frame members 41 and 42together with their associated guide members 41a and 42a define verticalguideways for the axles 24 and 26. Suitable brace members 46 and 47 areprovided at the sides and ends respectively of the excavator frame.Mounted for pivotal movement on the lower frame member 44 inwardly ofthe corners of the excavator frame 39 are pins 48 which carry brackets49. Mounted for rotation on suitable short shafts 51 adjacent the freeends of the brackets 49 are wheels 52, which preferably are of thepneumatic type. Rigidly secured to the pins 48 and the brackets 49 areupstanding handle members 53. Mounted on the bottom members 44 alongsidethe handle members 53 are arcuate brackets 54 having a plurality ofopenings 56 therein for receiving a laterally projecting pin 57 carriedby the handle member 53. It will thus be seen that movement of thehandle members 53 about their pivot points causes the wheels 52 to beraised or lowered whereby they can be locked in selected verticalpositions relative to the excavator frame 39 by inserting the pin 57 inthe proper opening 56. U

Mounted on the upper transverse frame members 43 of the excavator frame39 is a winch 58 having cables 59 and 61 adjacent each side thereof. Thecables 59 extend downwardly under pulleys 62 mounted at one end of thebottom member 44 and then extend upwardly to the shaft 24 to which theyare secured. The cables 61 extend from their respective ends of thewinch 58 over sheaves 63 mounted adjacent the ends of the upper framemembers 43 opposite the winch 58 and then pass downwardly under sheaves64 mounted at the ends of the bottom frame members 44 opposite thesheaves 62. The cables 61 then extend upwardly to the shaft 26 to whichthey are secured. Mounted for pivotal movement on the upper frame member43 adjacent the winch 58 is a pawl 66 which is adapted to engage asuitable ratchet 67 mounted on the winch 58.

Connecting the upper and lower frame members 43 and 44 inwardly of eachend of the excavator frame 39 are vertical racks 68. Secured to theaxles 24 and 26 are depending brackets 69 and 71, respectively.Pivotally connected to the depending brackets 69 and 71 on pins are pawlmembers 72 and 73, respectively, which are adapted to engage the racks68 whereby the excavator frame 39 does not tilt as the apparatus ismoved back and forth by the fluid pressure operated cylinder 32 Springs75 are connected to the brackets 69 and 71 by 3 pins 80 and to the pawlmembers 72 and 73 to hold the pawl members in engagement with the racks68.

Fluid under pressure is supplied to the conduits 37 and 38 of thecylinder 32 by a self-contained pump and reservoir indicated generallyat 74. A suitable control valve 76 connects the unit 74 with theconduits 37 and 38 whereby the fluid is introduced selectively atopposite ends of the fluid pressure operated cylinder 32, thus impartingreciprocatory motion to the supporting frame 16 and the excavator frame39 carried therewith. The control valve 76 may be of a type toautomatically reverse the flow of fluid at the extreme ends of thecylinder 32, such as a valve controlled by a mechanical trip linkage ora fluid pressure pilot circuit which automatically reverse the flow offluid in the conduits 37 and 38. The pump of the self-contained unit 74is provided with a pulley 77 which is in driving relation with a secondpulley 78 by means of a suitable belt 79. The pulley 78 is mounted on adrive shaft 81 which is operatively connected to a power unit, such asan internal combustion engine 82, by a clutch reduction unit 83. Mountedfor rotation in bearings 84 and 86 at the top of the excavator frame 36is a shaft 87. Mounted on the shaft 87 opposite the pulley 78 is apulley 88. The pulleys 78 and 88 are connected to each other by suitablebelts 89.

Frame members 90 extend between the frame members 41 and 42 above theframe members 44. Mounted for rotation in suitable U-bracket bearings 91and 92 secured to the frame members 90 adjacent the lower ends of theexcavator frame 39 are short shaft members 93 and 94, respectively.Mounted at the ends of the shaft 87 and outwardly of the excavator frame39 are drive sprockets 96. Mounted on the shafts 93 and 94 are sprockets9'7 and 98, respectively. Passing around the sprockets 96, 97 and 98 areendless bucket elevators indicated generally at 99. Mounted at each endof the excavator frame 39 intermediate the sprockets 97 and 98 is anidler spracket 101 which is supported in a suitable U-shaped bearingmember 102 secured to frame member 90.

Each bucket elevator 99 comprises an endless sprocket chain 103 whichcarries a plurality of buckets 104. Mounted at the leading edge of eachbucket 104 is an outwardly projecting cutter element 106 which isadapted to engage the bottom of the opening 14 being dug. Mounted ateach side of the buckets 104 are outwardly extending cutter elements107. As shown in Fig. 1, the cutter elements 107 are in position for theones thereof at the end of the excavator frame 39 toward which theapparatus is moving to operate and for the cutter elernents 107 at theopposite end of the excavator frame to operate when the apparatus istraveling in the pposite direction. That is to say, the cutter elements107 at the left of the buckets 104 shown in Fig. I operate when theapparatus is traveling toward the left and the cutter elements 107 atthe right side of the buckets 104 operate when the apparatus istraveling to the right.

A suitable inclined slide 108 is provided at one side of the apparatusto convey the dirt discharged by the buckets 104 to a point beyond thesupporting frame 16. Also, runners 109 are attached to the side of theexcavator frame adjacent the shaft 87 to bear against the adjacent wallof the opening 14 and thereby absorb the side thrust which the bucketelevators 99 exert in this direction.

From the foregoing description, the operation of my improved excavatingapparatus will be readily understood. The guide rails and 11 areanchored to the ground 12 by the pins 13 adjacent each side of the opening 14 to be dug. With the excavator frame 39 in the raised position,the apparatus is supported by the wheels 52 and is transported to theguide members 10 and 11 where the flanged rollers 27 ride upon the same.The wheels 52 are then adjusted to the proper elevation by moving thepin 57 to the proper opening 56, whereby the cutter elements 106 diginto the ground the depth desired. The upstanding bracket 34 isconnected to the end of the piston rod 33 and fluid is introducedselectively at opposite ends of the cylinder 32 whereby reciprocatorymotion is imparted to the apparatus. As the apparatus travels in onedirection along the guide members 10 and 11, the cutter elements 106 andthe cutter elements 107 at the side of the buckets 104 toward which theapparatus is moving, dig into the earth and fill the buckets 104. Thedirt in the buckets 104 is discharged onto the slide 108 whereby thedirt is conveyed to a point beyond the supporting frame 16.

In view of the fact that with both bucket elevators 99 the cutterelements 107, at the sides of the buckets 104 toward which the apparatusis moving dig into the earth, one pass of the apparatus equal to thelength thereof digs an area twice the length thereof. The engagement ofthe pawls 72 and 73 with the racks 68 prevent the excavator frame 39from tilting as the apparatus is reciprocated. Accordingly, when thewheels 52 at the end of the excavator frame toward which the apparatusis moving reach the point where the earth has been dug, the wheels atthe opposite end of the apparatus support the same, thereby preventingtilting. The runners 109 attached to the side of the excavator frameadjacent the shaft 87 bear against the adjacent wall of the opening 14being dug, thus absorbing the side thrust which the bucket elevatorswill exert in this direction. The downward feed of the excavator frame39 is by gravity and the depth of each cut made by the cutter elementsis regulated by setting the pins 57 in the proper openings 56. As thedigging proceeds, the pawl 66 is held out of engagement with the ratchetwheel 67 whereby the excavator frame 39 will move downwardly as thedigging proceeds. The reciprocatory motion of the apparatus imparted bythe piston rod 33 is continued until the opening 14 is of the desireddepth.

To remove the excavator frame 39 from the opening 14, the pawl members72 and 73 are released manually from engagement with the racks 68 andare held in released position by suitable retaining members (not shown)and the winch 58 is turned whereby the cables 59 and 61 are woundthereon thus lifting the excavator frame 39 relative to the supportingframe 16. The pawl 66 is then moved into engagement with the ratchet 67to prevent downward movement of the excavator frame after it has beenraised. The entire apparatus is then rolled beyond the end of theopening 14 and the wheels 52 are lowered below the plane of thelowermost cutter elements 106 by adjusting the handles 53 to the properpositions. The apparatus is then transported on the wheels 52. Theapparatus may be transported by any suitable means or may beself-propelled by providing a suitable drive connection between thepower unit 82 and the wheels 52.

To prevent damage to the cutter elements, the sprockets 96 are connectedto the shaft 87 by suitable shear pins 110 which serve as overloadsafety devices.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have provided improvedexcavating apparatus which is particularly adapted for use in closeplaces where the apparatus must be of a minimum width. By providing thecutter elements outwardly of the excavator frame and providing supportmeans which are positioned wholly within the confines of the excavatorframe, the cutter elements are always in clear view of the operator.Also, by providing cutters at the sides of the buckets of the elevators,the layer of earth removed is equal to twice the distance of travel ofthe apparatus.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious tothose skilled in the art that it is not so limited but is susceptible ofvarious changes and modifications without departing from the spiritthereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall beplaced thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In excavating apparatus adapted to dig a substantiallyrectangular-shaped opening in the ground, a mobile supporting frame,means imparting continuous reciprocatory motion to said supporting frameas the digging proceeds, an excavator frame carried by said supportingframe and adapted for vertical movement relative thereto, endless bucketelevators mounted for rotary movement at each end of the excavatorframe, outwardly extending cutter elements at the leading edge of eachbucket of said elevators, other outwardly extending cutter elements atthe sides of each of said buckets in position for the ones thereof atthe side toward which the apparatus is moving to make a cutsubstantially at right angles to the cut made by said cutter elements atthe leading edge of the buckets and for said other cutter elements atthe opposite side to make a cut substantially at right angles to the cutmade by said cutter elements at the leading edge of the buckets when theapparatus is moving in the opposite direction, and means within theconfines of said excavator frame supporting the excavator frame atselected elevations from the bottom of the opening being dug.

2. In excavating apparatus adapted to dig a substantiallyrectangular-shaped opening in the ground, elongated guide membersadapted to be anchored to the ground, a supporting frame adapted formovement along said guide members, means imparting continuousreciprocatory motion to said supporting frame as the digging proceedswhereby it travels back and forth along said guide members, an excavatorframe carried by said supporting frame and adapted for vertical movementrelative thereto, endless bucket elevators mounted for rotary movementat each end of the excavator frame, outwardly extending cutter elementsat the leading edge of each bucket of said elevators, other outwardlyextending cutter elements at the sides of each of said buckets inposition for the ones thereof at the side toward which the apparatus ismoving to make a cut substantially at right angles to the cut made bysaid cutter elements at the leading edge of the buckets and for saidother cutter elements at the opposite side to make a cut substantiallyat right angles to the cut made by said cutter elements at the leadingedge of the buckets when the apparatus is traveling in the oppositedirection, and means within the confines of said excavator framesupporting the excavator frame at selected elevations from the bottom ofthe opening being dug.

3. Excavating apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which the meansimparting reciprocatory motion to the supporting frame comprises a fluidpressure actuated member anchored at one end thereof to one of theelongated guide members and at the other end thereof to said supportingframe.

4. Excavating apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which the meanssupporting the excavator frame at selected elevations from the bottom ofthe opening being dug comprises wheels mounted for vertical adjustmentinwardly of the corners of said excavator frame.

5. In excavating apparatus adapted to dig a substantiallyrectangular-shaped opening in the ground, elongated guide membersadapted to be anchored to the ground along opposite sides of the openingto be dug, a supporting frame adapted for movement along said guidemembers, means imparting continuous reciprocatory motion to saidsupporting frame as the digging proceeds whereby it travels back andforth along said guide members, an excavator frame within the confinesof the supporting frame and adapted for vertical movement relativethereto, supporting Wheels for the excavator frame mounted for verticaladjustment inwardly of the corners of said excavator frame, endlessbucket elevators mounted for rotary movement at each end of theexcavator frame, outwardly extending cutter elements at the leadingedges of each bucket of said bucket elevators, other outwardly extendingcutter elements at the sides of each of said buckets in position for theones thereof at the side toward which the apparatus is moving to make acut substantially at right angles to the cut made by said cutterelements at the leading edge of the buckets and for said other cutterelements at the opposite side to make a cut substantially at rightangles to the cut made by said cutter elements at the leading edge ofthe buckets when the apparatus is traveling in the opposite direction,and lift means mounted on said excavator frame and connected to saidsupporting frame for raising and lowering the excavator frame relativeto the supporting frame.

6. Excavating apparatus as defined in claim 5 in which the lift meanscomprises a winch mounted on the excavator frame, sheaves mounted forrotation adjacent the lower ends of said excavator frame, and flexiblecables secured at one of their ends to said winch and passing from saidwinch under said sheaves with the other ends of said cables secured tothe supporting frame.

7. In excavating apparatus adapted to dig a substantiallyrectangular-shaped opening in the ground, elongated guide membersadapted to be anchored to the ground along opposite sides of the openingto be dug, a supporting frame adapted for movement along said guidemembers, means imparting reciprocatory motion to said supporting framewhereby it travels back and forth along said guide members, an excavatorframe within the confines of the supporting frame and adapted forvertical movement relative thereto, supporting wheels for the excavatorframe mounted for vertical adjustment inwardly of the corners of saidexcavator frame, endless bucket elevators mounted for rotary movement ateach end of the excavator frame, outwardly extending cutter elements atthe leading edges of each bucket of said bucket elevators, otheroutwardly extending cutter elements at the sides of each of said bucketsin position for the ones thereof at the side toward which the apparatusis moving to operate and for said other cutter elements at the oppositeside to operate when the apparatus is traveling in the oppositedirection, lift means mounted on said excavator frame and connected tosaid supporting frame for raising and lowering the excavator framerelative to the supporting frame, vertically extending rack membersmounted adjacent opposite ends of said excavator frame, and pawl memberspivotally mounted on the supporting frame in position to engage saidracks whereby the excavator frame is held against tilting.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS994,380 Farrelly June 6, 1911 2,444,321 Woolridge June 29, 19482,624,129 Steece Jan. 6, 1953 2,782,534 Wall Feb. 26, 1957

